trace.moe
trace.moe searches anime scenes from screenshots to identify a title, episode, and timestamp, then provides a short preview to help confirm a match.
What trace.moe is
trace.moe searches anime scenes from screenshots to identify a title, episode, and timestamp, then provides a short preview to help confirm a match. It is for finding a scene, not watching anime; access to the original video is limited to a few seconds. Its image retrieval compares colors and patterns rather than using neural-network image understanding, and is designed for nearly exact matches. The index includes officially published TV, web, DVD, and Blu-ray anime; most Japanese anime since 2000 are included, though coverage is incomplete for some series. Crops, flips, rotations, strong filters, dark scenes, large text, and low-detail images can lead to failed searches. The FAQ recommends images at least 320×180 pixels. Use trace.moe on the web, through its API, or with official screenshot-search extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. Official tools also include a Telegram bot and an MCP server. The free service has no ads and is funded by donations; GitHub Sponsors plans add daily API quotas and search priority. The terms say uploaded search images are deleted immediately.
Good
- Returns anime title, episode, and timestamp
- Free service has no ads
- Offers browser extensions and an API
- Uploaded search images are deleted immediately
Watch out
- Not intended for watching anime
- Search can fail on altered or low-detail images
- Some series have incomplete index coverage
- Original video preview is limited to a few seconds
Who it suits
trace.moe suits people trying to identify an anime scene from a closely matching screenshot. Developers can also use its API or MCP server.
Verdict
trace.moe is focused on locating anime scenes rather than providing full video access. Results depend on a close screenshot match and whether the series is covered by its index.
Plans and prices
From trace.moe's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free service · no ads · operational costs funded by donations |
| GitHub Sponsors — $1/month | $1 a month | 1,000 API search quota per day · medium search priority · $1 a month |
| GitHub Sponsors — $5/month | $5 a month | 5,000 API search quota per day · medium search priority · $5 a month |
| GitHub Sponsors — $10/month | $10 a month | 10,000 API search quota per day · higher search priority · $10 a month |
| GitHub Sponsors — $20/month | $20 a month | 20,000 API search quota per day · higher search priority · 2 concurrent search · $20 a month |
| GitHub Sponsors — $50/month | $50 a month | 50,000 API search quota per day · higher search priority · 3 concurrent search · $50 a month |
| GitHub Sponsors — $100/month | $100 a month | 100,000 API search quota per day · highest search priority · 4 concurrent search · $100 a month |
The facts
Each one read from trace.moe's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Browser integrations
- Official screenshot-search extensions are listed for Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.checked 7 Oct 2026
What it does
- Indexed content
- The index covers officially published TV, web, DVD, and Blu-ray anime; most Japanese anime since 2000 are indexed, with incomplete coverage for some series.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Legal policy
- The terms describe a process for reporting copyright infringement and say repeat infringers' accounts may be disabled or terminated.checked 7 Oct 2026
- MCP capabilities
- The MCP server supports searches by image URL, local image file, base64 image, vector, or anime name, and can report account quota.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Minimum image guidance
- The FAQ recommends images of at least 320×180 pixels for effective searching.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Not for streaming
- The site says it is not for watching anime and limits access to the original video to a few seconds of preview.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Other integrations
- Official apps include a Telegram bot and an MCP server; the API documentation and source code are also linked for developers.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The terms page states that images uploaded to the search engine are deleted immediately.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- trace.moe searches anime scenes from screenshots and can identify the anime, episode, and exact timestamp, with a short preview to verify results.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Search limitations
- Search is designed for almost-exact matches, and crops, flips, rotations, strong filters, dark scenes, large text, or low-detail images can cause failures.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Search method
- The service uses content-based image retrieval that compares image colors and patterns rather than neural-network image understanding.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker directs users with questions or feedback to its Discord or Telegram communities.checked 7 Oct 2026
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